Biomass, as a household fuel, is vital to the energy economy of Sri Lanka, although few reliable estimates of consumption are available. In the present study, biomass fuel consumption was measured and other related data collected from a sample of 518 households. The total consumption of biomass fuel by the household sector was estimated at 7·5 million tonnes year −1 and the per caput consumption at 1·36 kg day −1. The biomass fuels used included rubber wood 18·0%, crop wastes (mainly from coconut) 28·8%, and other fuelwood 53·2%. Of the rural households studied 81% obtained their biomass fuel by gathering, generally within a distance of 1·6 km (1 mile). The mud stove and the three-stone open fireplace were the most common cooking devices used.